When you think of Serbia as a destination, what is the first image or feeling that comes to mind, and why that one?

Hugs, laughter, togetherness, and excellent food. At this moment, that is the rarest and most valuable tourist offering in the world.

Which place in Serbia surprised you the most — one you didn’t expect much from, but that completely won you over?

Banat, because I used to take it for granted. The people of Banat have always been unique and have managed to stay true to themselves. Novi Bečej and Vršac have perfectly combined all the comforts of modern life with tradition, great music, unique museums, wineries, stud farms, even a desert landscape…

If you had to recommend just one place in Serbia to someone visiting for the first time, what would it be and how would you describe it in one sentence?

Western Serbia, because it is lush and green, accommodation is excellent, and people are extremely hospitable. In just one weekend, you can design a trip that includes deep, quality sleep (which has special value today) in Divčibare, homemade food, a ride on the historic train in Mokra Gora, a cruise on the Drina to Višegrad, hiking on Tara, and shopping and nightlife on Zlatibor.

Where in Serbia did you experience your most beautiful “slow travel” moment — the one where time slows down and the experience lingers long after the journey?

The Drina River is a true gem that mass tourism has not yet taken over. One of the most beautiful spots is “Drina glamping,” a corner near Loznica. It’s a shame there aren’t more places like this, because they don’t require large investments and people today are willing to pay for “star tourism.” Places away from city crowds, offering the sound of crickets and a sky full of stars, are rare and incredibly valuable.

Which destination or experience has grown so close to your heart that you know you will definitely return, and why?

Gračanica and Brezovica. It’s an incredible feeling to stand on a stone where someone who fought in the Battle of Kosovo once stood, and to quietly observe the frescoes of King Milutin and Simonida. Years of hardship have given the people of Gračanica and Brezovica a wide, welcoming heart for everyone who visits.

Serbia offers a rich mix of nature, culture, and gastronomy — what would your ideal weekend combining all three look like?

A cruise on the Danube aboard the “Akvastar Maksim” is a weekend getaway everyone should experience at least once. Especially since, on the return journey, all the places seen from the river are visited with a guide. The cruise itself — from Belgrade Fortress and Smederevo, through Ram and Golubac to the Iron Gate Gorge — is a journey through history unlike any other, all within just eight hours of sailing. Eastern Serbia is exceptional and still somewhat mystical, and combined with local delicacies, the “slow tourism” of Kladovo, and the comfort of the “Akvastar” hotel, this kind of weekend is true masstige (luxury accessible to the average traveler).

How important are local people and encounters during your travels? Is there a story or meeting you remember in particular?

Marija Kasaš collects teapots and has a museum in her home in Novi Bečej, which she gladly shows to anyone who shares her passion. The visit is free, and she happily prepares tea and chats with visitors. I especially remember the moment when she gifted me a sugar coupon, since I collect them myself.

Such people with unique passions are Serbia’s treasure. Predrag Obradović, in New Belgrade, runs a BMW car museum and also welcomes visitors free of charge — often fathers with their sons — and gladly talks about every vintage car he has lovingly restored.

Which place in Serbia is “Instagram-friendly,” but at the same time offers an authentic experience — something beyond just a photo?

Belgrade is unmatched — a city you can explore endlessly and still be surprised. In one day, you can experience a wine and jazz weekend in the Botanical Garden, a morning party after the market, and a cocktail in a private apartment club. The people of Belgrade make the city special, and private museums — such as the Book Museum, the Porcelain Figurine Museum, the Museum of the Paranormal, and historic homes like the Jevrem Grujić House — are not just “Instagrammable,” but truly exceptional experiences. Few cities have a fortress in the very center, and when you add the increasingly rare opportunity to drink coffee with locals in a capital city, Belgrade becomes a unique destination in Europe. We’ve reached a point where Barcelona, London, and Berlin might even envy us.

What would you recommend to someone who wants to experience Serbia differently, beyond the classic tourist routes?

Serbia is now well connected by roads, and within an hour you can reach the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge, as well as the Maglič Fortress, below which there is an eco-camp where you can spend a relaxed “chill” day at a reasonable price. Thanks to the “Soko” train, you can take a trip to Subotica, enjoy the craziest flea market in the world and the most beautiful farmsteads. In summer, in Sremska Mitrovica, you can swim at one of the most beautiful city beaches in Serbia, visit a Roman site, have lunch — and get there by train in just one hour.

Can you reveal some interesting tourist gems that can be found in major cities, but differ from mainstream tourism?

The Sweet Preserve Museum in Kraljevo is a truly feminine place! However, it is events that make Serbia special. Although Leskovac is well known, it is a city you will talk about long after your impressions — and the great food — settle.

Belgrade is most often the beginning and the end of every visit to Serbia, and the fact that it can make anyone dance is remarkable. Belgrade offers traditional taverns for boomers, the already mentioned morning parties for Gen Z, matinees and sunset parties for millennials, pre- and after-parties for Gen Alpha, disco nights for the 40+ Gen X crowd, and entertainment that lasts until the early hours. Many people rent river barges just to “live like a Belgrader” for at least one day in their lives. With 8,200 cafés, taverns, and restaurants, this is perhaps the strongest recommendation a city can have.